After born again experience, the believer needs to walk with God. It is called walking in the Spirit or walking in holiness and he needs to continuously renew his mind.
The Holy Spirit and word of God helps a believer to renew his mind (Romans 12:1-2). Thus he grows up in maturity. There are no shortcuts. There is no magical formula for renewing our mind. A believer must change his old mindset (understanding) with Holy Spirit guidance and God’s Word. He must believe, think and do as God says. It’s not psychology, it’s not education, it’s the supernatural operation of the Spirit of God and word of God that renews his mind.
Let us see old mind set and new mind set:
Old Mind: it is self-centred. This is the mindset of unbelieving people(unsaved) or believers who have not renewed their mind.
Unrenewed mind results –Wrong attitude, Motives, Fear, Rebellious nature, Selfish, Ungodly behaviours etc.
The new mindset is God centred. This is the mindset of believers who have renewed their mind.
Renewed mind results – Hope, Joy, the revelation of God, God’s guidance, Edifying and Godly behaviour.
Let us see some comparison.
A. Old mind: It is debased and not willing to retain God in their knowledge. Old mindset does not want to be accountable to God for its lifestyle.
Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
New mind: New mindset is the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.
B. Old mind: It is the enemy of God. It is rebellious to Godly understanding. Colossians 1:21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled
New mind understands God’s will and it is God-fearing( Romans 12:1-2).
C. Old mind has arguments and opinion against God’s will. It has it’s own agenda.
2 Corinthians 10:5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
New mind understands God’s will and obeys it. Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
D. Old mind dwells in fear of the world.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
New mind is fearless. New mind only fears God.
E. Old mind set thinks of earthly things. New mind set dwells on heavenly things. Colossians 3:2-5 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
You can not keep your mind in two opposite places- earthly or heavenly. The earthly things are fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness etc.
F. Old mind shapes us according to the pattern of the world.
(Romans 12:1-2)
New mind shapes us according to the desire of God. Conforming to this world = old mindset. A new mindset is renewed. Only new mindset understand the “God’s will” which is good and perfect for life.
G. Old mind is corrupt through deceitful desires.
Ephesians 4:22-24 To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
The new mind is on holy and concentrate on God’s righteousness and purity.
H. The old mindset is fleshly; it leads us to a lifestyle focused on self. The old mindset concentrate on either self-gratification or self-effort (and sometimes a strange mixture of the two), it is totally displeasing to God.
Romans 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
The new mind is God-centric and it pleases God. It is humble and sacrificial. Old mind says what I can get but the new mind says what I can give. God helps us to renew our minds, the way we think. When we think differently we live differently.
I. The old mind draws its identity from the self, world etc. The new mind gets it identifies from Christ.
The self-centred mind asks – If I do it, what benefit I will get out of it? But God-centred mind asks – If I do it, will it please God?
J. Old mind gets wisdom from the world(common sense). The new mind gets the understanding from God’s word and Spirit of God.
HOW TO RENEW YOUR MIND ?
Bible tells us to renew our mind( Romans 12:2). Many of us believe that once our life is transformed, then our mind will be renewed automatically. But it is not true. After being born again experience we need to continuously renew our mind to understand God’s will and to live a godly life.
We can change our thought patterns and beliefs within ourselves by believing what God says. We can renew our mind by meditating on the word of God and obeying Spirit of God daily( Romans 12:1-2, Psalm 1, Psalms 119:11, Colossian 3:10, Ephesians 4:23).
a. We should check whether our understandings are from God or somewhere else. We should not be conformed to the pattern of the world( Romans 12:1-2).
Scripture says we need to think good things (Philippians 4:8). And we need to dwell on Godly things( Colossians 3:2-5 ).
We should reject everything which are not good, not true or ungodly.
b. We should train our mind to meditate on the word of God and learn to hear from God. We need to obey God to do His will in our life.
We can stop worrying (Matthew 6:25-27) or being anxious (Philippians 4:6-7). Surrender our burden to the Lord and stop thinking about it.
c. We can repent for any self-focused understanding or worldly understanding and we need to seek God’s will for that particular understanding.
d. When we believe in a lie for a longer time it may become a stronghold in our mind. If you are suffering from strongholds in your mind then you need deliverance from it. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
The enemy wants to attack us, using our wrong understanding ( mind). Understanding is very important. If you have a wrong understanding it will create fear, shame, guilt etc. It will become a stronghold in your mind.
Wrong understanding ( LIE) ➡️ Fear ➡️ worship➡️ stronghold in mind.
Living in Fear means, worshipping fear. If you live like that then there may be a stronghold of the enemy in your mind.
Wrong understanding+ Demon ➡️ Stronghold = Need deliverance
If a person is delivered from the demon he still needs to renew his mind. Without renewing his understanding, he may fall into the same sin and demonic control.
Conclusion: Renewal of mind is very important for our faith walk. If you have received a new life but you are not interested to renew your mind then you may go back to the same sinful nature as before. Then you may even doubt your salvation. You may start doubting God also. Only a renewed mind only understand God’s will and can obey God (Romans 12:2).
